Health

Pate Urges National Health Fellows participants to enhance existing reforms

Published

2 years ago

February 27, 2025

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, has urged participants of the maiden National Health Fellows Programme to build on the existing health sector reforms.

Pate made the remarks on Wednesday in Abuja, at the training session for participants of the fellowship.

According to him, the participants are future leaders who will accelerate healthcare reform, improve accountability, and have the opportunity to be coached and mentored.

He emphasised the importance of their commitment to contributing to the country’s health sector reforms and to continuous learning, so that together, they can build a stronger, more reliable healthcare system.

The minister noted that the participants’ efforts were crucial in achieving President Bola Tinubu’s vision for a prosperous and healthy Nigeria.

“We are genuinely interested in your development and in giving you the opportunity to learn and to contribute.

“When you exit from the programme, we hope you will acquire skills and some understanding of yourselves that you will sow into the future.”

Regarding the selection process, Pate said that the 774 participants were chosen from about 359,000 applicants, adding that it was a merit-based selection with a huge representation of women, men and disabled population.

He, however, said that the unsuccessful candidates would be encouraged to participate in the Associate Health Fellows programme.

Some of the participants said they saw it as a huge opportunity to serve the nation and pledged to make good use of it.

One of the participants, Mr Godswill Micheal from Sidi Ibom LGA of Akwa Ibom State, said that he had been looking forward to such opportunity and that his participation in the programme has renewed his hope in the country.

He added that he had been working in communities for years and that participating in the programme was an opportunity for him to upscale his activities and do much better for his community.

He urged other Nigerian youths to keep hope alive as the country would get better soon and everyone would enjoy its dividends.

The newly unveiled one-year National Health Fellows Programme is aimed at boosting the health sector.

The programme brought together emerging professionals across several disciplines.

This includes health, health-related fields, information technology, and social sciences intended to cultivate a cadre of highly skilled and motivated health leaders capable of driving innovation in the health sector.

Championed by the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (HSRII) SWAp Coordination Office under the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, it drew participants from all the 774 LGAs.

NAN

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Health

Football Legends to Light Up Nigeria in NICRAT’s World Soccer Legends Cancer Match

Published

4 weeks ago

September 2, 2026

The Gleamer

By Joel Ajayi

Nigeria is set to witness a football spectacle as some of the world’s greatest football legends converge for the First World Soccer Legends War Against Cancer International Charity Football Match Nigeria 2026.

The star-studded event, backed by the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), is designed to combine football entertainment with a major campaign to raise cancer awareness, promote early detection and mobilise resources for prevention and treatment.

The initiative, themed “Play for Prevention, Score for Life,” was unveiled on Wednesday in Abuja with the official launch of the event logo, kits and a 60-day countdown to the international charity match.

The campaign is expected to feature former international football stars while bringing together cancer advocates, government institutions, corporate organisations, development partners and other stakeholders in a united effort against the disease.

Speaking on behalf of NICRAT Director-General, Prof. Usman Aliyu, Dr Margaret Sawyer said the institute was supporting the initiative because of its potential to take cancer-awareness messages to millions of Nigerians.

She said the campaign would go beyond fundraising by educating Nigerians on cancer prevention, early detection and the need to seek medical attention promptly.

According to her, football offers a unique platform for reaching diverse communities, while the influence of football legends could help deliver important health messages to a wider audience.

Earlier, National Coordinator of the Main Organising Committee (MOC), Mr Jacob Onu, said the event was conceived to transcend the boundaries of sport and evolve into a national and international movement against cancer.

Onu said the participation of former football stars would amplify messages on cancer prevention, screening, treatment, research and support for patients and survivors.

He added that the event would also celebrate life, honour those who had lost their lives to cancer and inspire survivors and people currently battling the disease.

“Together, through football, compassion and collective action, we can win the War Against Cancer,” he said.

Onu called on Nigerians across the 774 local government areas to become ambassadors of the campaign by promoting healthy lifestyles, regular medical checks and early medical intervention.

He also appealed to corporate organisations, philanthropists, international organisations, football stakeholders, media organisations and development partners to support the initiative.

The MOC coordinator commended NICRAT, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), sponsors, partners and other stakeholders for their support.

He assured that the organising committee would deliver an event capable of meeting international standards while creating a lasting legacy in cancer awareness, advocacy, humanitarian support and sports development.

In his goodwill message, President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Engr. Habu Gumel, expressed concern over the rising global cancer burden and called for sustained action beyond the charity match.

Gumel urged the organisers to extend the campaign beyond Abuja to communities across the 36 states, while calling on governments at all levels to strengthen cancer prevention, screening and treatment.

The NOC president pledged his support for the initiative and encouraged Nigerians to make regular cancer screening and periodic health checks a priority.

Also speaking, Director of Cancer Prevention and Control at NICRAT, Dr Usman Mohammed Waziri, reaffirmed the institute’s determination to ensure that the initiative produces a positive and lasting impact on Nigeria’s cancer-control efforts.

With the 60-day countdown officially underway, organisers said the World Soccer Legends Cancer Match would combine the excitement of football with humanitarian action, using the power and influence of football legends to drive a nationwide campaign against cancer.

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